[sylvanSpider]

Few things in Ashi's life could be described as more heartwrenching than seeing the once leaping flames dwindle down to little more than a flicker, the warmth draining from her own cheeks as the fire dimmed. Ashi swallowed, reduced to a spectator, a witness to the trauma of a diminishing species. She watched, tears once again threatening to spill and she nodded, gulping, “Her essence will find its way, of that I am certain. She was a cowgirl – an explorer of new frontiers. This...this will be just another for her.”

“I imagine specialized anatomists are imperative for an organization that's known throughout the universe, and I'm thankful that I was given one with a specialty in humanoid lifeforms – and I'm sure Shaldag will be grateful for it as well,” Ashi said, thankful that she managed to choke back almost all of her tears successfully in time for a subject change.

“I...I know. It's the part that I'm dreading, a necessary evil to be sure,” the princess murmured, lacing her fingers and unlacing them, only to lace them back up again. Little else had been on her mind for the past few days as she lay writhing in pain. The first was Toka. That sweet embodiment of innocence now reduced to nothing but a pair of cowboy boots and a pile of ash. She had no doubt that she was at least partially to blame for Toka's being left alone, coupled with a false sense that the girl was invincible due to her being a personified star. The second was this. This knowledge that innocent blood would forever stain her pale hands in the name of justice and a better future. If the execution was done poorly, it would all be in vain and not all of the pieces were on the board yet. She would have to work with Riola – a fact that she was dreading since she came to the terms that there would be deaths had in her name.

“Yes, yes. Of course, have as many samples as you need,” Ashi's voice sounded from the place the verdaqua was pooling. “Technically pure, yes. I was only granted the title of princess because my mother was full Daoweian. By the time she was executed, I was already known of by the media so it was claimed she fell ill. Few know the truth to this day...But, ah, I'm rambling. Not all of us have this trait – it's stronger in the royal bloodlines – but some in the general populace have it as well, likely a remnant from our pre-technological days.”

[[No need to respond to any of the above in the spirit of progression; we can start from Shaldag's room for the next post]]

Ashi mustered a smile despite the sight that greeted her upon entering the room. As much as she wanted to respond to Dr. Analoka, giving her the respect she deserved, she found herself at a loss for words. She was visible now, and wearing the scrubs that Analoka had pointed out. She looked more like a patient than a princess, but physically she felt better than she had in what felt like eons. Blue eyes roved over the broken body of her friend and ally – her savior.

“Shaldag, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry,” she finally managed to croak, her voice cracking. “You're going to make it; they're going to take good care of you, just like they did me...”

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“Well, I'm not,” the doctor said patiently, “I know that you all have a higher intelligence than mindless killing machines, and I have services that you need me alive for and there aren't many Terskix specialists on this planet. It benefits you to keep me alive, ergo, you won't hurt me.” He shrugged knowing that an appeal to her intelligence would only strengthen his chances. “Don't get me wrong – I am well aware of the fact that you could kill me the second you don't want me alive. But my point is that you won't not want me alive, you see.”

Mendez couldn't argue with that logic and as far as he could tell, Atrix wouldn't be able to either. His no nonsense attitude and acknowledgment of her killing powers were both aspects working in his favor. Truly, he was specialist – and not just in their anatomy. “A month and a half until your next molt? It's strange that it hasn't healed, or least begun healing. This cream,” the doctor said nonchalantly squirting the contents of one of the containers into a bowl and adding a powder, “works in three ways. It stops up the crack and works as a supplemental addition to your exoskeleton, it reduces any irritation, and finally, it legitimately heals the crack in your exoskeleton and will fall out as your exoskeleton starts to heal. I'll take care of you first and then I'll examine your mate.”